Arts community seeks help during cost of living crisis A national donation day run by the federal arts funding body is back for a second year but will Australians open their wallets during a cost of living crisis? AAP · Oct 17
Who should assume the risk when art gets controversial – the artist or their employer? How we value the arts comes down to much more than looking at the sector’s economic contributions. There are also the social benefits, and the importance of connection to culture on a societal level. The Conversation · Sep 1
Nearly every Australian engages with arts and culture. Politicians should pay attention Culture is a vital part of many people’s lives. This is the view afforded by the latest data on cultural participation from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS), Creative Australia and Screen Australia. The Conversation · Aug 24
Community radio drives $153m into Australian music – new study Australia’s community radio sector contributes an estimated A$153.1 million to the country’s struggling music industries each year. The Conversation · May 19
Khaled Sabsabi is finally at the Venice Biennale: ‘Being here is already a win’ Australia’s representative at the world’s biggest art show has not one but two works on show – a major achievement and happy ending to a year of controversy and protest The Guardian - AU · May 8
'Forgotten dreams': Aussie artist dazzles at Venice After much fanfare and controversy, crowds are marvelling at Khaled Sabsabi's work in Venice as he brings western Sydney's diversity to life on a world stage. AAP · May 7
Long road to Venice: Australia's entry finally on show Australia's Venice Biennale entry is on display, more than a year after the artist and curator were ditched from the job, sparking a raging controversy. AAP · May 6
Has national cultural policy revived the arts scene? As arts bodies are defunded amid scandals and event cancellations, many in the sector are disgruntled with the national cultural policy. AAP · Apr 20
Need cash for the arts? Try donor finance, inquiry told Australia's cash-strapped arts sector could be helped by repayable loans from private donors, an inquiry has been told. AAP · Mar 25
'No time for grudges': artist duo's eyes set on Venice Two artists dumped then brought back as Australia's representatives for the prestigious Venice Biennale want attention on their work, not an earlier fracas. AAP · Mar 11
The funding tide rolls back in for Sculpture by the Sea After the Perth staging of Sculpture by the Sea had to be cancelled in 2025 due to a lack of funding, the popular art event is back. AAP · Mar 6
After a turbulent year, Australia’s Khaled Sabsabi will present two works at the Venice Biennale The artist, who was controversially revoked and then reinstated by his government, is planning a ‘nurturing experience’ to bring people together The Guardian - AU · Feb 25
Author 'gobsmacked' by peak body funding crisis A peak body for writers may have to close after missing out on state government funding, and one author says she's "gobsmacked" by the situation. AAP · Feb 4
‘Masterclass in poor governance’: what was the board’s role in the end of Adelaide Writers Week? This afternoon, Adelaide Writers Week was cancelled for 2026 – less than a week after Palestinian-Australian writer Randa Abdel-Fattah was disinvited by the Adelaide Festival board. This came despite the “strongest opposition” from Writers Week director Louise Adler, who resigned this morning. The board has announced its remaining members will… The Conversation · Jan 13
The Conversation · Nov 24, 2025 Meanjin was closed – but new Australian literary journals are springing up around the country The recent, sudden closure of Meanjin has brought renewed attention to Australian journals: those hardy perennials that support Australian literature year in and year out. While the sector has been suffering for some time, new entrants in Adelaide’s Splinter and First Nations journal Sovereign Texts – and a resurrected Southerly…
AAP · Nov 11, 2025 Arts day delivers millions, with a bit of taxpayer help An arts donations day run by Creative Australia has raised $2 million, but the cost to taxpayers may well exceed the amount provided by private donors.
AAP · Oct 24, 2025 Fundraising fizzers signal stark challenge for the arts The first national donations day run by Creative Australia has raised more than $1 million, but many groups failed to meet their fundraising targets.
The Conversation · Oct 23, 2025 Misinformation was rife during the 2025 election. New research shows many people were unable to identify it Misinformation has become a routine part of daily life, shaping public discourse and distorting perceptions. A new report reveals that in the two weeks prior to the 2025 federal election, almost two-thirds (60%) of adults reported coming across election misinformation. Only 19% didn’t come across it and 21% were unsure.
AAP · Oct 22, 2025 Icing on the funding cake: Aussie arts' pitch for cash The first national crowdfunding day for artists is being run by Creative Australia, but does the pitch for donations highlight a lack of government support?
The Guardian - AU · Oct 14, 2025 Creative Australia awards Khaled Sabsabi $100,000 grant months after dumping from Venice Biennale Funding is a silver lining in a tumultuous year for the Lebanese-Australian artist from western Sydney
AAP · Sep 25, 2025 Funding fracas casts Sculpture by the Sea adrift At-risk art trail Sculpture by the Sea insists its exhibitors are compensated fairly after the federal arts minister took a swipe at the popular Sydney event.
AAP · Sep 24, 2025 Funding crisis may halt beloved coastal sculpture event Three weeks before the annual Sculpture by the Sea, organisers are trying to raise $200,000 so the event can go ahead.
The Conversation · Sep 8, 2025 The decision to close Meanjin misunderstands its wider importance. Australian culture deserves better Last week’s announcement of Meanjin’s closure marks a poignant moment for Australian culture. Meanjin is a nationally significant cultural institution with a storied history. Closing it suddenly, without warning and with no consultation, on “purely financial grounds”, is a very deliberate act.
The Guardian - AU · Jul 4, 2025 The ABC and Creative Australia panicked in the face of controversy. These vital institutions must not be so timid In the Lattouf and Sabsabi cases, the apparently unmanageable sensitivity was discussion of Israel and Palestine
The Guardian - AU · Jul 4, 2025 Creative Australia chief executive facing mounting pressure to resign after Khaled Sabsabi controversy Senior arts figure says board and CEO ‘didn’t seem to understand or at least trust the power and complexity of the visual arts’